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How To Replace The Domestic Chemicals In Your Home*

*This is a collaborative post*

Many of us are now becoming more increasingly aware of the effects of chemicals. You may even have heard discussions in recent news about this very topic and the effects chemicals can have not just on ourselves, but on the home and in the garden. Some chemicals indeed look set to be banned in the near future due to their impact on air pollution. Many of my friends are now making the switch to chemical free products and completely natural makeup. Chances are you're using products that contain domestic chemicals and although you may not be aware of this, they can actually have negative effects on your well-being. According to a recent study, regular household cleaning products such as shampoo and oven
cleaner can contribute to up to half of VOCs found in the atmosphere. In todays post we're exploring the effects that domestic chemicals can have and how you can replace them with safer alternatives.

The fight against chemicals

Education is the key to change and as the results of more studies are being revealed, it's becoming more apparent just how harmful domestic chemicals can be. Although some of these are on their way to being banned, there are still others
that remain on our supermarket shelves. Examples of these include:

Hand soap — some of these often contain the
chemical triclosan which has been found to affect thyroid hormones
in animal studies and possibly contribute to the development of
antibiotic-resistant germs.

Researchers from the University of
Iowa discovered that some kitchen cabinets emit PCBs
(polychlorinated biphenyl compounds), chemicals which are under
investigation as causes of cancer.

Pesticides — neonicotinoid
pesticides put both honeybees and wild bees at risk. Although, the
UK government has said it will support a complete ban on the outdoor
use of bee-harming chemicals.

As mentioned above, many brands of hand
soap have been found to contain the chemical triclosan which has been linked to
health implications. It is also a resilient compound that is not
destroyed on its way to the ocean and can therefore destroy bacteria
and intervene with the food chain.

Scarily, researchers from the
University of Iowa have revealed that some kitchen cabinets emit PCBs
(polychlorinated biphenyl compounds), chemicals which have been found
to cause cancer. These compounds occur as sealants breakdown in
kitchen furniture.

Neonicotinoid
pesticides put both honeybees and wild bees at risk when used in any
outdoor setting. The UK Government has already said it will support a
complete ban on the outdoor use of these three bee-harming chemicals

Joost de Gouw, a
scientist at the University of Colorado at Boulder and co-author of
the study, said: Many of the organic compounds in these
products are reactive once in the atmosphere and can contribute to
formation of two major air pollutants, ozone and fine particle. In
that sense, they contribute to air pollution in a very similar manner
as cars.

The combination of some
domestic chemicals can be harmful too. The mixture of bleach and
rubbing alcohol for example can create toxic chloroform and make you
unconscious.

So... What can you use instead?

As strange as this sounds, pineapple plants can actually improve air quality and can help to reduce snoring or so was reported by NASA. Peace Lilycan
reduce toxins such as benzene, ammonia, ethyl and acetone and can prevent
the toxins from spreading across rooms. Research found that this
plant can improve air quality by as much as sixty percent!

Red-edged Dracaena rids
the air of chemicals including xylene, trichloroethylene and
formaldehyde (found in varnishes and gasoline) which causes lack of
concentration and increased anxiety.

Formaldehyde levels in
homes can also be reduced by ensuring adequate ventilation, moderate
temperatures, and reduced humidity levels through the use of air
conditioners and dehumidifiers. *The research in this post was gathered by Compost Direct, suppliers of garden bark mulch.*Photo via Pexels

Photo by Justine Machin. Interview with Author of 'All The Bright Places' Jennifer Niven. Part Two. So last...

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